David Black of West Windsor recently received the second annual Heart of the Fire Service Award from the Princeton Junction Fire Company. The award is presented to firefighters for not only giving their all to their fire departments, but also for giving back to the community.
A five-year West Windsor resident and active firefighter, Black co-manages the West Windsor Wildcats softball team, is a Princeton Alliance Church care member, and works with Boy Scout Troop 66. He also teaches firearm safety, is a member of the Red Knights Motorcycle Club, and performs electrical and maintenance tasks at the fire station. A certified NRA instructor, Black has introduced the sport and taught teenagers the safe handling of firearms at the Citizens Rife and Pistol Club in West Windsor.
Born and raised in Tennessee, he graduated from Montreat College in North Carolina with a degree in business administration. He has worked as a maintenance technician since the mid-1980s. When his wife, Janet, graduated from University of Tennessee, the couple moved to Stone Mountain, Georgia. Five years later they moved to Asheville, North Carolina, and stayed there for 15 years. Their children, Tyler, and Katelyn were born there.
When Janet became an executive director at Avon Products in New York City, the family moved to West Windsor because of the proximity to the train. David manages all of the maintenance work at Duke Farms in Hillsborough.
Tyler, 18 on June 1, is a senior at High School South. In the fall he plans to attend University of Tennessee to major in forestry. A junior firefighter member for two years, he will graduate from fire school in June. A member of Boy Scout Troop 66, his Eagle Scout project will better the fire house. He is also a co-founder of a chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (fca.org) in the area.
Katelyn, 14, is an eighth grade student at Grover Middle School. She is on the school softball team as well as a member of the Wildcats. She recently received a coaches award.
“I’m a firm believer that you teach your kids whatever they want to do and get involved with whatever they are interested in,” Black says. “Involvement helps your kids as well as other kids.”
The family is active at Princeton Alliance, providing outreach by serving in the food kitchen, working in a group home in West Windsor, and being involved with a Bible study community group. “God has blessed me with a great family that supports what I do,” he says. “We are always helping families in need.”
Black, who did not know anyone when he moved to West Windsor, approached the fire house with the idea of helping people. He applied and soon graduated from fire school. Three years ago he became a trustee of the fire company. He routinely provides maintenance work on the fire house and recently installed a new air compressor in the building. “Firefighters are one huge family and we help each other,” he says. “I am blessed to be a fire fighter and believe we are here to serve mankind.”
